1 month ago
What we learn from pre-season - Farsley Celtic 3 Bradford City 1
Farsley Celtic 3 Bradford City 1 - Pre-season 2008/2009
It was once said of a group of young footballers who went on to big things that “you won’t win anything with kids” and perhaps as Stuart McCall prepares his team for the start of what is expected to be a promotion season this motto has been taken to heart with the City boss arriving at Farsley Celtic with a collection of major signings who were all aged around thirty. McCall is not going to stand accused of trying to make youngsters do men’s jobs.
However if they warn that inexperience will not beget results then lifelessness is an even bigger ailment and it was that which was Bradford City’s undoing tonight.
We should remember that one should not read too much into pre-season - City ended with game with David Wetherall, Wayne Jacobs and Physio Adam Cook on the field - but the approach to a game at Farsley Celtic could be a telling factor. Paul McLaren arrived at Valley Parade to gasps and delight but he and Lee Bullock at the heart of the Bantams first half midfield put in little application. Throstle’s Nest is not a million miles from Christie Park or many other League Two grounds and every game in claret and amber is important.
That the Bantams trailed 3-0 at half time was an indication as to how little McLaren and Bullock had got stuck in and the turnaround in the second half was entirely down to the hustle brought to the game by Kyle Nix and the impressive Luke Sharry. If one was to read anything into pre-season games then it would be that Craig Bentham and Tom Penford might be at Celtic because of the abilities of Sharry who is very much one to watch.
Certainly if City are to get anywhere they are going to need more application in winning the ball than McLaren or Bullock showed and one worries that that pairing could be another Steven Schmacher and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson.
Also a problem - in the first half at least - was defensive struggling by young pair Adrian Bellamy and Luke O’Brien who were at fault for a goal each as they dallied on the ball rather that putting the David Wetherall boot through it.
The other goal came from one of those offside decisions which drive you nuts. Paul Arnison had half a good debut having to do much to cover Bellamy next to him and Kory Nix - brother of Kyle - in front both missing. Kory Nix started well tucking in and taking the ball but after a half hour went missing up front although this came after a distressingly high kick to his chest from a defender that shook the new Australian.
Up front Peter Thorne hit the post with a header and Willy Topp looked lively until he was moved to the right wing second half although it was from the right that the cross that saw Barry Conlon fouled to win and score a penalty that got City’s goal came.
Conlon was partnered by Michael Boulding’s brother Rory who played the second half. Shoudl he sign then Michael Boulding, as with Graeme Lee and Chris Brandon, had to slot into this team and one can be sure that at no point did the eleven on the field resemble those who will start the season.
However regardless of the players on the field should anyone in claret and amber turn up without putting effort in then we will not win. It is pre-season and not much can be read into it but that much I know and can guarantee.
“You won’t win anything without effort.”
July 17th, 2008 at 9:13
Well there were some poor shows last night, and some equally good ones. Topp looked good, he seems to have learnt he cant always drop deep for the ball. Daley looked quite fresh and prepared to work, Sharry was excellent in the second half (I expect to see much more of him this season) and I thought Boulding did quite well (he held the ball up and brought others into play - whether he has any prowess in front of the goal remains to be seen). Simon Ainge showed that he could well be a capable deputy for any injury to the major 3 centre backs.
I think we have seen enough pre seasons over the years to say that the first game is just about getting the legs and lungs going. All the players looked fit and healthy, Barry certainly has come back leaner, helping him no doubt to trying to win a contract longer than 6 months.
Couple this with the fact that in the first half only Bower and Thorne were regulars last season in the spine of the team. New players will take time to gel in, and this much was obvious from last nights efforts.
McLaren had a good touch and looked like he wanted to boss the midfield, so Bullock needs to learn that to play alongside him, he needs to sit and hold his position. O’Brien either needs some serious coaching, or he needs to be loaned out somewhere. The game last night reeked of his performance at Harrogate Town last season, where he got ripped to shreds by the Town winger.
All in all, it was good to see City finally on a pitch rather than on the back page. With the addition of Lee, Brandon and Heckingbottom, who are odds on to start in Citys first league line up of the season, the side has a solid look to it on paper.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:47
You can’t blame some of the players for treading lightly last night in the first “friendly” of pre season - from what i heard, Farsley were pumped up and ready to take on anyone - haveing already drawn against Port Vale and beaten a reserve Blunts side, they were perhaps more ready for the game than City. Would you be willing to risk injury against a semi pro outfit at this stage of pre season?
You can’t read much into this match at all. The introduction of the assistant manager, physio and first team coach sort of said it all.
Farlsey got a crowd of over 800, so financially will be okay about last night as well. I just wonder what the point of it was from a City fans’s perspective - we may as well have had a behind closed doors game between City’s first team and reserves.